Background Note: Botswana
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Geography
Area: 582,000 sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas.
Cities (2001 census): Capital--Gaborone (pronounced ha-bo-ro-neh), pop. 186,007. Other towns--Francistown (83,023), Selebi-Phikwe (49,849), Molepolole (54,561), Kanye (40,628), Serowe (42,444), Mahalapye
(39,719), Lobatse (29,689), Maun (43,776), Mochudi (36,962).
Terrain: Desert and savanna.
Climate: Mostly subtropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Motswana (sing.), Batswana (pl.).
Population (est.): 1.84 million.
Annual population growth rate (2008): 1.434%.
Ethnic groups: Tswana 79%; Kalanga 11%; Kgalagadi, Herero, Bayeyi, Hambukush, Basarwa ("San"), Khoi, whites 10%.
Religions: Christianity 70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%.
Languages: English (official), Setswana, Ikalanga.
Education: Adult literacy--81%.
Health (2008): Life expectancy--50.6 years. Infant mortality rate--44.01/1,000.
Work force (2005/2006 est.): 548,600 employed; total including unemployed, 651,500.
Government
Type: Republic, parliamentary democracy.
Independence: September 30, 1966.
Constitution: March 1965.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), cabinet. Legislative--popularly elected National Assembly; advisory House of Chiefs. Judicial--High Court, Court of Appeal, local and customary courts, industrial labor court.
Administrative subdivisions: Five town councils and nine district councils.
Major political parties: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)--48 seats, Botswana National Front (BNF)--12 seats, Botswana
Congress Party (BCP)--1 seat, Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM)--0 seats.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
Nominal GDP (2007): $11.9 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2007 est.): 4.8%.
Per capita nominal GDP (2007): $6,742.
Natural resources: Diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, soda ash, salt, gold, potash.
Agriculture (1.7% of real GDP, 2006/2007): Products--livestock, sorghum, white maize, millet, cowpeas, beans.
Industry: Types--mining (42% of real GDP, 2006/2007): diamonds, copper, nickel, coal; tourism, textiles, construction, tourism, beef
processing, chemical products production, food and beverage production.
Trade (2007): Exports--$7.2 billion: diamonds, nickel, copper, meat products, textiles, hides, skins, and soda ash. Partners--EU, South Africa. Imports--$4.2 billion: machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, fuels. Major suppliers--South Africa, EU, and U.S.
PEOPLE AND HISTORY
The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country's major ethnic group (the
"Tswana" in South Africa), which came into the area from South Africa during the Zulu wars of the early 1800s. Prior to
European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.
In the 19th century, hostilities broke out between the Batswana and Boer settlers from the Transvaal. After appeals by
the Batswana for assistance, the British Government in 1885 put "Bechuanaland" under its protection. The northern
territory remained under direct administration and is today's Botswana, while the southern territory became part of the
Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest province of South Africa; the majority of Setswana-speaking people today
live in South Africa.
Despite South African pressure, inhabitants of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Basutoland (now Lesotho), and Swaziland in
1909 asked for and received British assurances that they would not be included in the proposed Union of South Africa. An
expansion of British central authority and the evolution of tribal government resulted in the 1920 establishment of two
advisory councils representing Africans and Europeans. Proclamations in 1934 regularized tribal rule and powers. A
European-African advisory council was formed in 1951, and the 1961 constitution established a consultative legislative
council.
In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved
from Mafikeng, in South Africa, to newly-established Gaborone in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general
elections and to independence in September 1966. Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate
claimant to traditional rule of the Bamangwato, was elected as the first president, re-elected twice, and died in office
in 1980. The presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire, who was elected in his own right in 1984
and re-elected in 1989 and 1994. Masire retired from office in 1998. The presidency passed to the sitting vice
president, Festus Mogae, who was elected in his own right in 1999. Mogae won a second term in elections held October 30,
2004 and stepped down in accordance with national term limits on March 31, 2008. On April 1, 2008 former Vice President
Ian Khama assumed the presidency. The next general election is expected in October 2009.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Botswana has a flourishing multiparty constitutional democracy. Each of the elections since independence has been freely
and fairly contested and has been held on schedule. The country's minority groups participate freely in the political
process. There are three main parties and a number of smaller parties. In national elections in 2004, the Botswana
Democratic Party (BDP) won 44 of 57 contested National Assembly seats, the Botswana National Front (BNF) won 12, and the
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) won 1 seat. Individuals elected by the National Assembly hold an additional 4 seats; the
ruling BDP currently holds all 4. The opposition out-polled the ruling BDP in most urban areas. The openness of the
country's political system has been a significant factor in Botswana's stability and economic growth. General elections
are held every 5 years. The next general election is expected to be held in October 2009.
The president has executive power and is chosen by the National Assembly following countrywide legislative elections.
The cabinet is selected by the president from the National Assembly; it consists of a vice president and a flexible
number of ministers and assistant ministers, currently 16 and 8, respectively. The National Assembly has 57 elected and
4 specially elected members; it is expanded following each census (every 10 years; the most recent was conducted in
2001).
The advisory House of Chiefs represents the eight principal subgroups of the Batswana tribes, five members specially
elected by the president, and 22 members elected from designated regions. The elected members hold office for a period
of only 5 years whereas the eight principal chiefs are members for life. A draft of any National Assembly bill of tribal
concern must be referred to the House of Chiefs for advisory opinion. Chiefs and other leaders preside over customary
traditional courts, though all persons have the right to request that their case be considered under the formal
British-based legal system.
The roots of Botswana's democracy lie in Setswana traditions, exemplified by the Kgotla, or village council, in which
the powers of traditional leaders are limited by custom and law. Botswana's High Court has general civil and criminal
jurisdiction. Judges are appointed by the president and may be removed only for cause and after a hearing. The
constitution has a code of fundamental human rights enforced by the courts, and Botswana has a good human rights record.
Local government is administered by nine district councils and five town councils. District commissioners have executive
authority and are appointed by the central government and assisted by elected and nominated district councilors and
district development committees. There has been ongoing debate about the political, social, and economic marginalization
of the San (indigenous tribal population). The government's policies for the Basarwa (San) and other remote area
dwellers continue to spark controversy.
Principal Government Officials
President--Lt. Gen. (ret.) Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Vice President--Lt. Gen (ret.) Mompati S. Merafhe
Cabinet Ministers
Finance and Development Planning--Baledzi Gaolathe
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation--Phandu T.C. Skelemani
Environment, Wildlife and Tourism--Onkokame Kitso Mokaila
Communications, Science and Technology--Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi
Office of the President for Justice, Defense and Security--Dikgakgamatso R. Seretse
Office of the President for Public Administration--Daniel Kwelagobe
Trade and Industry--Daniel Neo Moroka
Minerals, Energy and Water Resources--Ponatshego Kedikilwe
Lands and Housing--Nonofo E. Molefi
Local Government--Margaret Nasha
Education and Skills Development--Jacob Nkate
Health--Lesego E. Motsumi
Works and Transport--Johnnie K. Swartz
Labour and Home Affairs--Peter L. Siele
Sports, Youth, and Culture--Gladys K. Kokorwe
Agriculture--Christian De Graaff
Ambassador to the United States--L. Caesar Lekoa
Ambassador to the United Nations--Charles Ntwaagae
Botswana maintains an embassy at 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036 (tel. 202-244-4990; fax 202-244-4164). Its mission to the
United Nations is at 103 E. 37th Street, New York NY 10017 (tel. 212-889-2277; fax 212-725-5061).
ECONOMY
Botswana has enjoyed one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world since independence. Economic
growth averaged 9% per year from 1967-2006. The government has maintained a sound fiscal policy, despite three
consecutive budget deficits in 2002-2004, and a negligible level of foreign debt. Foreign exchange reserves were $10.2
billion at the end of November 2007, equivalent to 28 months' cover of 2007 imports of goods and services. Botswana's
impressive economic record has been built on the foundation of wisely using revenue generated from diamond mining to
fuel economic development through prudent fiscal policies and a cautious foreign policy. However, economic development
spending was cut by 10% in 2004/2005 as a result of recurring budget deficits and rising expenditure on healthcare
services. Development spending began to increase again in 2006/2007 and was budgeted to increase by 27% in the 2007/2008
fiscal year. Real GDP remained flat in 2005/2006, but the growth rate recovered to 6.2% in 2006/2007. The government
recognizes that HIV/AIDS will continue to affect the economy and is providing leadership and programs to combat the
epidemic, including free anti-retroviral treatment and a nationwide Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission program.
Mining
Debswana (formed by the government and South Africa's DeBeers in equal partnership) is the largest mining operation in
Botswana. Several other mining operations exist in the country, including the Bamangwato Concessions, Ltd. (BCL, also
with substantial government equity participation) and Tati Nickel.
Since the early 1980s, the country has been the world's largest producer of gem-quality diamonds. Four large diamond
mines have opened since independence. DeBeers prospectors discovered diamonds in northern Botswana in the late 1960s.
The first mine began production at Orapa in 1972, followed by the smaller mines of Lethlakane and Damtshaa. What has
become the single-richest diamond mine in the world opened in Jwaneng in 1982. The Orapa 2000 Expansion of the existing
Orapa mine was opened in 2000. In December 2004, Debswana negotiated 25-year lease renewals for all four of its mines
with the Government of Botswana. For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2007, diamonds accounted for 67% of total
exports (down from a high of 84% in 2003/2004) and 28% of GDP Diamond mining, however, is capital intensive and only
accounts for approximately 5% of employment. In 2007, Debswana produced 33.8 million carats, down slightly from 34.3
million carats in 2006, but 2007 revenue was 18 billion pula (approximately U.S. $3 billion), a 3.5% increase from 2006.
Exploration for other kimberlite pipes continues. In addition, as part of Botswana's drive to diversify and increase
local value added within the mining sector, De Beers opened the Diamond Trading Center in 2008 to shift sorting,
cutting, polishing, aggregating, and marketing to Gaborone from London.
BCL, which operates a copper-nickel mine at Selebi-Phikwe, has had a troubled financial history but remains an important
employer, although the life of the mine is expected to end in the next 5 to 10 years. Other copper-nickel mines include
Tati Nickel near Francistown. Botash, the sole producer of soda ash in the region and supported by substantial
government investment, produced 265,000 tons of soda ash in 2005.
Coal-bed methane gas has been discovered in the northeastern part of the country, estimated by the developers at a
commercially viable quantity of 12 trillion cubic feet. Development of the gas fields has been slow, however.
Tourism
Tourism is an increasingly important industry in Botswana, accounting for approximately 10% of GDP in 2006. One of the
world's unique ecosystems, the Okavango Delta, is located in Botswana. The country offers excellent game viewing and
birding both in the Delta and in the Chobe Game Reserve--home to one of the largest herds of free-ranging elephants in
the world. Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve also offers good game viewing and some of the most remote and
unspoiled wilderness in southern Africa.
Agriculture
More than one-half of the population lives in rural areas and is largely dependent on subsistence crop and livestock
farming. Agriculture meets only a small portion of food needs and contributes a very small amount to GDP--primarily
through beef exports--but it remains a social and cultural touchstone. Cattle raising in particular dominated Botswana's
social and economic life before independence. The national herd is estimated between 2 and 3 million head, but the
cattle industry is experiencing a protracted decline.
Private Sector Development and Foreign Investment
Botswana seeks to further diversify its economy away from minerals, which account for over 40% of GDP. Foreign
investment and management are welcomed in Botswana. Botswana abolished foreign exchange controls in 1999, has a low
corporate tax rate (15%), and no prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies. The country's inflation rate had
remained stable and comparatively low over the 10 years preceding 2005. However, rising fuel and utility prices along
with the government's 12.5% devaluation of the Pula in May 2005 resulted in a spike in inflation to 11.4% as of December
2005, which fell well outside the Bank of Botswana's target rate of between 4%-7%. Inflation as of November 2007 was
7.7%. The Government of Botswana was considering additional policies to enhance competitiveness, including a new Foreign
Direct Investment Strategy and National Export Development Strategy. Botswana's parliament adopted both a Privatization
Master Plan and a new Competition Policy that were aimed at fostering economic diversification.
With its proven record of good economic governance, Botswana was ranked as Africa's least corrupt country by
Transparency International in 2008 (36th worldwide, ahead of many European and Asian countries). Botswana is
consistently ranked by international organizations as among the freest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. In the 2008
Economic Freedom of the World report, Botswana was ranked 60th overall and third-highest in Africa, while the Heritage
Foundation's 2008 Index of Economic Freedom ranked Botswana second in sub-Saharan Africa. In November 2005, Standard & Poor's once again assigned Botswana an "A" grade credit rating. This ranks Botswana as by far the best credit risk in
Africa and puts it on par or above many countries in central Europe, East Asia, and Latin America.
U.S. investment in Botswana remains at relatively low levels. Major U.S. corporations, such as H.J. Heinz and AON
Corporation, are present through direct investments, while others, such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Remax, are present
via franchise. The sovereign credit ratings by Moody's and Standard & Poor's clearly indicate that, despite continued challenges such as small market size, landlocked location, and
cumbersome bureaucratic processes, Botswana remains one of the best investment opportunities in the developing world.
Botswana has a 90-member American Business Council that accepts membership from American-affiliated companies.
Because of history and geography, Botswana has long had deep ties to the economy of South Africa. The Southern Africa
Customs Union (SACU), comprised of Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and South Africa, dates from 1910, and is the
world's oldest customs union. Under this arrangement, South Africa has collected levies from customs, sales, and excise
duties for all five members, sharing out proceeds based on each country's portion of imports The exact formula for
sharing revenues and the decision-making authority over duties--held exclusively by the Government of South
Africa--became increasingly controversial, and the members renegotiated the arrangement in 2001. A new structure was
formally ratified and a SACU Secretariat was established in Windhoek, Namibia. Following South Africa's accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO, of which Botswana also is a member), many of the SACU duties are declining, making
American products more competitive in Botswana. Botswana signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European
Union in December 2007, and, as a member of SACU, it signed a preferential trade agreement in 2004 with Mercosur. In
July 2008, SACU signed its first Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement (TIDCA) with the United States.
SACU also has plans to negotiate free trade agreements with China, India, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Botswana's currency--the Pula--is fully convertible and is valued against a basket of currencies heavily weighted toward
the South African Rand. Profits and direct investment can be repatriated without restriction from Botswana. The Botswana
Government eliminated all exchange controls in 1999. The Central Bank devalued the Pula by 12.5% in May 2005 in a bid to
maintain export competitiveness against the real appreciation of the Pula and restructured the exchange rate mechanism
to a crawling peg system to ensure against future large-scale devaluations.
Botswana is a member of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Gaborone hosts the SADC
Secretariat's headquarters. SADC has a broad mandate to encourage growth, development, and economic integration in
Southern Africa. SADC's Trade Protocol, which was launched on September 1, 2000, called for the elimination of all
tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade by 2008 among the 11 signatory countries. The SADC free trade agreement based on
the agreed tariff phasedown was launched at the August 2008 summit in South Africa. Zimbabwe's membership has limited
SADC's opportunities for cooperation with the United States.
Transportation and Communications
A sparsely populated, semi-arid country about the size of Texas, Botswana has nonetheless managed to incorporate much of
its interior into the national economy. An "inner circle" highway connecting all major towns and district capitals is
completely paved, and the all-weather Trans-Kalahari Highway connects the country (and, through it, South Africa's
commercially dominant Gauteng Province) to Walvis Bay in Namibia. A fiber-optic telecommunications network has been
completed in Botswana connecting all major population centers.
In addition to the government-owned newspaper and national radio network, there is an active, independent press (one
daily and seven weekly newspapers). Two privately owned radio stations began operations in 1999, and a third began
operations in 2008. In 2000, the government-owned Botswana Television (BTV) was launched, which was Botswana's first
national television station. GBC is a commercially owned television station that broadcast programs to the Gaborone area
only. Foreign publications are sold without restriction in Botswana, and there are 22 commercial Internet service
providers. Three cellular phone providers cover most of the country.
DEFENSE
The president is commander in chief of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF). A defense council is appointed by the
president. The BDF was formed in 1977 and has approximately 13,000 members.
The BDF is a capable and well-disciplined military force. Following positive political changes in South Africa and the
region, the BDF's missions have increasingly focused on border control and anti-poaching activities. The BDF is
considered an apolitical and professional institution.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Botswana puts a premium on economic and political integration in Southern Africa. It seeks to make SADC a working
vehicle for economic development, and promotes efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventative
diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance. Botswana joins the African consensus on most major international
matters and is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations and the African Union (AU). In 2008,
Botswana has taken a leadership role within SADC advocating for a resolution of the crisis in Zimbabwe that fully
reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people.
U.S.-BOTSWANA RELATIONS
The United States considers Botswana an advocate of and a model for stability in Africa and has been a major partner in
Botswana's development since its independence. The U.S. Peace Corps returned to Botswana in August 2002 with a focus on
HIV/AIDS-related programs after concluding 30 years of more broadly targeted assistance in 1997. Similarly, the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) phased out a longstanding bilateral partnership with Botswana in 1996,
after successful programs emphasizing education, training, entrepreneurship, environmental management, and reproductive
health. Botswana, however, continues to benefit along with its neighbors in the region from USAID's Initiative for
Southern Africa, now based in Pretoria, and USAID's Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub, headquartered in
Gaborone. The United States International Board of Broadcasters (IBB) operates a major Voice of America (VOA) relay
station in Botswana serving most of the African continent.
In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) started the BOTUSA Project in collaboration with the Botswana Ministry of
Health in order to generate information to improve tuberculosis (TB) control efforts in Botswana and elsewhere in the
face of the TB and HIV/AIDS co-epidemics. Under the 1999 U.S. Government's Leadership and Investment in Fighting an
Epidemic (LIFE) Initiative, CDC through the BOTUSA Project has undertaken many projects and has assisted many
organizations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana. Botswana is one of the 15 focus countries for
PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, and received more than $230 million since the program began in
January 2004 through September 2007. PEPFAR assistance to Botswana, which totaled $76.2 million in FY 2007, is
contributing to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care interventions.
The International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), situated just outside of Gaborone, is another example of bilateral
cooperation. The academy, jointly financed, managed, and staffed by the Governments of Botswana and the United States,
provides training to police and government officials from across the Sub-Saharan region. The academy's permanent campus,
in Otse outside of Gaborone, opened March 2003. Over 3,000 law enforcement professionals from Sub-Saharan Africa have
received training from ILEA since it began offering classes in 2001.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Stephen J. Nolan
Deputy Chief of Mission--Philip R. Drouin
Office of Defense Cooperation--William Wyatt
Centers for Disease Control--Dr. Margarett Davis
International Board of Broadcasters--George Miller
International Law Enforcement Agency--Stan Moran
Peace Corps--Margaret McClure
The U.S. Embassy is on Embassy Drive off Khama Crescent--P.O. Box 90, Gaborone (tel. 267-353-982; fax 267-356-947). ODC is located at
the embassy. CDC is located on Lejara Road, Phase 2 in Gaborone. ILEA is located in Otse, about 30 minutes outside of
Gaborone. The IBB station is located in Selebi-Phikwe, about 400 kilometers northeast of Gaborone.
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ENDS